Device for holding keys in fire-alarm boxes.



l P. B. HOLBROOK. DBvIoE Fon HOLDING KEYS IN FIRE ALARM BOXES.-

AYPPLIOATION FILED AUG. 2, 1910.

979,856. l Patented Dec.27, 1910.

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FRANK B. HOLBROOK, OF ROME, GEORGIA.

DEVICE FOR HOLDING KEYS IN FIRE-ALARM BOXES.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

Application filed August 2,` 1910. Serial No. 575,164.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK B. I-IoLBRooK, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and resident of Rome, in the county of Floyd and State ofGeorgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devicesfor I-Iolding Keys in Fire-Alarm Boxes, as set forth in the annexedspecification.

This invention relates to a device for holding keys in locks of firealarm boxes in position to be turned for the purpose of unlocking thedoor, frangible means being provided for holding the key againstrotation so long as the said means is unbroken.

An object of this invention is to provide a frangible key guard and anovel holder therefor which holder will prevent dislodgment of the keyholding means except upon fracture of said key guard or the partialdismantling of the holder.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a key guard forfire alarm boxes in which the key is in posit-ion to be turned in thelock requiring only fracture of the guard to permit the manipulation ofthe key, thereby enabling the use of the fire alarm box upon breakingthe guard.

Finally an object of this invention is to provide a device of thecharacter noted which will be eflicient and satisfactory in use as wellas comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Vith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists inthe details of construction and in the arrangement and combination ofparts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings forming part of this specification wherein likecharacters denote correspond ing parts in the several views, in which-Figure 1 illustrates a view in elevation of a fragment of a fire alarmbox with the key guard and holder applied thereto; Fig. 2 illustrates asimilar view showing the key guard in section; and Fig. 3 illustrates atop plan view of a fragment of a fire alarm box with the key guardpartially in section, the holder of the said guard being slightlymodified as compared with the holder shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In these drawings 4L denotes the door of a lire alarm box. The door Lhas a post 6 extending outwardly therefrom and terminating in a hollowboss 7, in which a spring 8 is seated, the said spring having one endlabutting the post 6 and the opposite end in engagement with a latch 9which latch is slidable on the hollow boss. The bracket G is furtherprovided with a transversely disposed aperture 10 to receive the screw11 which closes the opening in the hollow boss. The door is furtherprovided with a post 12 and is also provided with a boss 13 and atransversely disposed aperture 14 to receive the screw 15. The key guardconsists of a frangible tube 16 preferably of glass which lits on theboss 13 and receives the latch 9. The latch 9, it will be seen, ispartially in the hollow boss 7 and partially in the tube so that thetube is held with relation to the boss, through the medium of the latch.The key 17 has a hole therein to receive the tube 16 and when the partsare in the position shown in the drawings, the key cannot be turneduntil the guard is removed or broken. For the purpose of providing forthe manipulation of the latch 9 a wire or other suiiciently rigidimplement may be inserted in the hole 14 and press against the latch forthe purpose of moving it against the action of the spring 8 thusreleasing the tube, as stated.

In the form shown in Fig. 3, the post 62L has a boss 7a and a projection9a. In this modified construction, the tube 16a. and key 17a are similarto like parts in Figs. 1 and 2. The post 12a has a threaded aperture 18to receive the screw 19 which screw is adapted to project beyond theinner surface of the post 12a and enter the tube 16a for the purpose ofholding the said tube in the same manner as the said tube is held by theboss 13 and the latch 9 in Fig. 2.

It will be observed from an inspection of the drawing that aninexpensive guard is provided for fire alarm boxes and that said guardis readily renewable when broken and can be temporarily removed bymanipulating the latch as in Fig. 2 or the screw as in Fig. 3, thuspermitting access to the interior by officers or others upon propermanipulation of the mechanism.

1. In a guard for a fire alarm box, posts on the exterior of the box, afrangible guard held by the posts, and a key having an aperture toreceive the guard.

2. In a guard for fire alarm boxes, a door,

posts on the door, a key having an aperture, a frangible guard in theapertured key, and means on the posts for holding the guard.

3. In a guard for tire alarm boXes, a door, posts on the door, a keyhaving an aperture, and 'a frangible tubular guard in the apertured key,a boss in one of the post-s to receive the guard and a movable part onthe other post for engaging the guard.

l. In a guard for a fire alarm boX, posts secured to the said box, a keyhaving an aperture, a frangible tubular guard in the aperture of thekey, a boss on one of the posts to receive the guard, and a movable ipart adapted to engage the end'of the guard 1 5 remote from the boss.

In testimony whereof, I'afix my signature in the presence of tWoWitnesses.

' FRANK B. HOLBROOK. Witnesses:V

W. S. JORDAN, H. S. SHARP.

